Nothing Like Them
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Ibn al-Qayyim begins by reminding us how highly the Prophet ﷺ valued these surahs.
A companion named Uqbah ibn Amir reported, in Sahih Muslim, that the Prophet ﷺ said to him, have you not seen the verses revealed tonight? Nothing like them has ever been seen. Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak. And, say, I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind.
On journeys, the Prophet ﷺ taught Uqbah to recite them in the prayer. And he said that no one has ever sought protection with anything like them.
A’ishah reported, in Bukhari, that every night, before sleeping, the Prophet ﷺ would cup his hands, recite these surahs together with Surat al-Ikhlas, blow gently into his hands, and wipe them over as much of his body as he could reach, three times.
And when he was ill, in his final days, she would recite them for him, and wipe his hand over his body, hoping for its blessing.
The greatest of creation, the most beloved to Allah, did not consider himself beyond the need for these words. Neither should we.
